Tag Archives: childhood

An Old 8 Year Old

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I had 2 pen pals growing up:  Alexis who is family best friend who we would vacation together in Summer.  She lived in Portland and I lived all the way in Shelbyville, IN.  Alexis was a fun pen pal because she had the COOLEST  stationary.  It was Lisa Frank or Hello Kitty or something really fun.   Only on special occassions would I get Lisa Frank stationary.  I always had a complex about my stationary complex.

My other pen pal was Aunt B.  She lived a hour.5 away so clearly the best option for me was to write her letters.  Today she sent me an email.  Aunt B found the following piece of correspondence from an 8 year old me.

bess20letter

Here’s the translation for my beautiful handwriting:

Dear Aunt B,

Hi!  I’m cleaning everything and  looking at some old letters, they are funny!  Dad’s planning a new attack, so beware.  In one of the letters you like..????.  For Dad’s Day I made Dad a card at a card machine.  It says:  For all those times I got into trouble I have one thing to say for my self  Adam and Carrie Framed Me!  Love, Bess

I always assumed that I was a good writer as a young child.  Apparently not.  But I did have some pretty amazing Lisa Frank stationary.

Fall is a Lovely Season

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It feels like Fall!

I really like Fall.  It makes me want to buy plaid, pleated skirts and cardigans.  Summer might be my favorite season, but Fall is very very close second.  I like the way it smells.  You know how it smells a little bit like smores and leaves.  Good smell.

I think my love for Fall also comes from my infatuation with apples and apple cider.  I got my first REAL jug of cider this week.  It is pure delight.  I love apple cider.  Last year, I got some from the grocery and I started chugging it from the jug as soon as I got in the car.  Not one of my proudest moments, but I don’t care.  Feel free to judge.

There is an apple orchard about 10 from home (childhood home).  A trip to the orchard has always been the official Fall signal for me.  Every year Mom and I go.  Sometimes, we would make a big outing out of it.  Anne and Aunt Kim would come.  We would get those crazy apple picker tools and our bag and run through the line of trees picking apples

Ok, how cute are Anne [cousin] and I?

And, way to go Connie!  Look at my great outfit!  I was a styln’ kid.  It’s very season appropriate.  I’m jealous I don’t own a cardigan just like that right now.  You can’t see it in this pic, but I’m also wearing some great knee socks.

I’m not sure if it’s a memory contrived out of pictures, but I remember this being a great day.  For as much as I tease Mom, I had a pretty fantastic childhood.  Mom worked hard at making sure I was learning and experiencing things.

Even last year, when I was feeling depressed about no longer being in college, Mom took me to the orchard, got a cider slushy, honey sticks, a bunch of apples, and a pumpkin.  I really did feel much better about life after that.

ANYWAY…..  I like fall and I love apples.  I’ve had one giant apple for breakfast all week and it has been very satisfying.

Go forth, pick some apple, coozy up with a blanket and apple cider and watch the leaves fall